About Cambelts:
Your vehicle’s cambelt is a critical component of the engine, responsible for synchronizing the movements of the camshaft and crankshaft. It ensures that the engine’s valves open and close at the right times, allowing fuel and air to enter the cylinders, and allowing exhaust gases to escape. In simpler terms, it prevents engine parts from hitting each other and causing damage.
Over time, cambelts can become worn and brittle, which can cause them to break or slip, leading to serious engine damage. That’s why it’s so important to have your cambelt replaced according to your vehicle’s maintenance schedule.
Causes of Cambelts not working correctly:
- Cambelt stretching – Over time the constant tension on the Cambelt can eventually result in stretching. This will mean the belt may be lose and wear down quickly and could cause serious engine damage if it is not replaced.
- Broken/Snapped Cambelt – If the Cambelt’s pulley tension is not set correctly the belt could stretch or wear down and snap. This would result in serious engine damage and your car would become undriveable.
- Misalignment – If your Cambelt is misaligned it could lead to some parts having over tension and other parts being lose. This will wear the Cambelt down very quickly and can result in
- Worn Pulleys – If you’re pulleys are worn it you’re cambelts tension is likely to be Incorrect. This will mean parts of your Cambelt may be stretched or lose and can also lead to severe engine damage.
- Oil Contamination – due to an oil leak for an oil seal such as the camshaft oil seal, crankshaft oil seal or the oil pump oil seal.
Grimmer motors can also fix oil leaks, https://grimmermotors.co.nz/car-engine-oil-leak-repair-hamilton/
Symptoms of a damaged Cambelt:
- Car Not Starting – Some modern vehicles are designed so that when the cambelt fails, the engine will not start as a preventative measure. This stops serios engine damage occurring. In some cases, the engine damage itself can also be what causes the car to not start.
- Engine Misfiring – If the cambelt slips or breaks, the camshaft and crankshaft can become out of sync, leading to engine misfires.
- Engine Warning Light – Some vehicles are equipped with sensors that can detect cambelt issues, and will illuminate the engine warning light on the dashboard.
- Engine Noise – If the cambelt slips or breaks, it can cause a loud, rhythmic noise from the engine.
- Engine Stalling – A damaged cambelt can cause the engine to stall, especially when the vehicle is under heavy load or acceleration.
- Engine Overheating – If the cambelt slips or breaks, the water pump, which is powered by the cambelt, may stop working. This can cause the engine to overheat.
- Visible Engine Damage – If the cambelt breaks, it can cause serious engine damage, such as bent valves, damaged pistons, or a damaged crankshaft. These can often be observed when looking at the engine.
It’s important to address any symptoms of a damaged cambelt as soon as possible, to avoid more serious and expensive engine damage. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s best to have your vehicle inspected by a professional mechanic as soon as possible.
Learn more about Cambelts here: Cambelts – Wikipedia
Cambelt replacements in Hamilton:
Cambelts don’t last forever so at Grimmer Motors our team of skilled mechanics can help you with all your replacement needs for Cambelts.
A Grimmer Motors, we provide a variety of cambelt-related services. This includes, re-alignment, changing pulley tension and replacement of these important components:
- The water pump
- The camshaft seal
- The cambelt
- The crankshaft seal
- The belt tensioner
- The cambelt idler
For all cambelt inspections and replacements in Hamilton, contact Grimmer Motors today!